AGGIES OVERVIEW: N.C. A&T returns eight letterwinners who competed last season including two of the team’s starters – senior guard Kala Green and sophomore center Alexus Lessears. Other prominent contributors back from last season’s team are senior forward Quenswayla Story, junior forward/center Charnise Tyler, sophomore forward Le’on Hill and sophomore guards Chrishyanah Alston, Shantell Bostick and Cinia McCray. In all, N.C. A&T’s roster includes one graduate transfer, two seniors, two juniors, six sophomores and two freshmen. The Aggies led the conference in 3-point field goal defense (.277), was second in rebounding (42.8) and third in assists (11.6) in 2016-17.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN OVERVIEW: Georgia Southern enters the 2017-18 season under third-year head coach Kip Drown (20-39). Drown led the Eagles to a 13-17 overall record with a 9-9 mark in conference play in 2016-17. Georgia Southern was picked to finish 10th in the Sun Belt and did not have a representative on the preseason all-conference teams. The team returns two starters and 10 letterwinners from last season’s squad. Nine of the 14 players on GSU are underclassmen and the team has three seniors – Sierra Butler, Trellanie English, Lurry and Alexis Foulks – set to lead the team this season.

PRESEASON PROJECTIONS: N.C. A&T was selected third in the preseason MEAC poll. Lessears was the lone Aggie to make the conference preseason team as she was selected to the second team. Last season, Lessears made the MEAC All-Rookie team after ranking seventh in the conference in rebounds (7.4), fifth in offensive rebounds (3.0) and eighth in defensive rebounds (4.4).

SEASON OPENERS: N.C. A&T last won a season opener on Nov. 14, 2014 at home against Navy, 52-47. Last season, N.C. A&T fell in their opener on the road to Georgia Southern, 65-50 in Hanner Fieldhouse. The Aggies are 2-8 in their last 10 season openers.

YEAR SIX: Tarrell Robinson heads into his sixth season as head coach of the Aggies women’s basketball program and is a win shy of his 100th career coaching victory. During his tenure, Robinson led the Aggies to three consecutive 20-win seasons, a conference championship and an NCAA Tournament bid. The Aggies did reach the conference tournament semifinals for the fifth straight season and Robinson is one win away from 100.

ON DECK FOR N.C. A&T: N.C. A&T opens the 2017-18 season with three out of their first four games at home. The Aggies host Elon in the Corbett Sports Center on Monday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m., before hitting the road for a matchup against SEC opponent Auburn on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. Following their meeting with the Tigers, N.C. A&T returns home for a meeting with Appalachian State on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 5:30 p.m.